Hawaii resident and star of celebrated series True Detective Woody Harrelson is urging lawmakers to end the ivory trade in the Aloha state. Harrelson joins The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International in their work to end the cruel and illicit ivory trade, which is driving the massacre of tens of thousands of African elephants every year.

Hawaii is the 3rd largest retailer of ivory in the nation, behind only New York and California. Scientists estimate African elephants may be extinct in as few as 12 years if the current rate of poaching continues.

A longtime advocate for animals, Mr. Harrelson declares,

“No one needs ivory except for elephants. Up to 100 African elephants are brutally killed each day for their tusks. These highly intelligent keystone species are facing the greatest threat to their survival in history. Right now Hawaii has a chance to be a global leader in elephant conservation by ending the illegal ivory trade and setting an example for other states and nations to follow. The world is watching. It is within our power, and our responsibility, to end this cruelty by stopping the blood ivory trade. As a long time Hawaii resident I know how much the great Aloha state has to offer; contributing to the massacre of elephants for their ivory, shouldn’t be one of them.”

The bill, House Bill 493 Senate Draft 1, is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Friday, March 28. If it passes, it will move on to a full Senate vote.

California wins the top spot with a score of 74%. A look at our home office in NJ ranks in at #6 with 58% - "The state passed a law to strengthen cruelty laws in 2013 and New Jersey recently made it illegal to slaughter horses for human consumption."

And South Dakota... boooo... dead last in the ranking. "South Dakota is the only state with no felony level penalties for egregarious acts of cruelty, and also has some weakest laws against cockfighting in the entire country."

Zeuterin, an injection of zinc gluconate and arginine, could soon offer U.S. veterinarians a new way to sterilize dogs. One of a number of nonsurgical options gaining interest, Zeuterin is injected directly into the testicles, and trials indicate it is effective in 99.6% of dogs. It could be commercially available by the end of the month. "This product isn't a product," said Joe Tosini, CEO of Ark Sciences, which owns the rights to Zeuterin. "It's really a procedure that has to be taught." Veterinarians who use the approach will need to complete a five-hour course.

Sportsman Channel, as part of its original programming push, will become the official network of Alaska's Iditarod sled dog event. The network plans to create 12 hours of special programming for the March event, which hasn't been shown on national TV in five years.

As the official network of the Iditarod, Sportsman Channel will exclusively spotlight the stories about the grueling trek in Alaska, showcasing the dogs, men and women and the race’s breath-taking wilderness setting.

During a week-long stunt entitled Iditarod Unleashed, Sportsman will air 12 hours of ancillary programming and specials – including never-before-seen footage for a national audience from the Iditarod library – timed around the 2014 competition. The coverage on the 32-million subscriber Sportsman will mark Iditarod’s return to national television: race-related programming last appeared on Versus (now NBCSN) in 2009.

Athos, a 4-year-old German shepherd serving with the Czech military in Afghanistan who was seriously injured during a 2012 rocket attack, has been honored for his bravery. Czech Republic Defense Minister Vlastimil Picek spoke at the ceremony, calling the dog "a soldier's irreplaceable friend." Athos, who was treated by U.S. personnel and recovered, may be sent back to basic training.

The growing prominence of medical marijuana has triggered an increase in the number of dogs who get sick after ingesting pot products, which they often find in the trash.

The Pet Poison Hotline, which takes calls from around the country and Canada, noted a 200 percent increase in reported incidents of poisoning in the past five years. Dr. Lori Green, a critical care veterinarian at the San Francisco SPCA Veterinary Hospital, says the clinic treats as many as three dogs a week for symptoms of marijuana toxicity: trembling, vomiting and walking troubles.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the active ingredient in marijuana. THC affects dogs differently than humans, and although not usually fatal, THC poisoning requires medical treatment that can include induced vomiting, intravenous fluids or activated charcoal.

Pot's effect different on dogs

A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2012 reported a correlation between the increase in the number of medical marijuana cardholders and the number of dogs getting poisoned. The study found a fourfold increase in cases seen at two Colorado hospitals over six years. All but two dogs - who ate cannabis butter - survived.

If only a small amount of marijuana is consumed, dogs may become listless or depressed. Pot affects dogs differently than it does humans, veterinarians say, because dogs don't have liver enzymes to metabolize tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. At higher doses, marijuana can cause dogs to vomit, lose coordination and bladder control, have tremors, and be nervous and over-reactive. Their body temperature and heart rate may drop.

In extreme cases dogs may suffer seizures or seem unresponsive, but THC poisoning is rarely fatal. Dogs usually recover in 12 to 24 hours, though signs can last up to 72 hours.

Elle (pronounced “Ellie”), a 3-year-old Pit Bull who teaches children about reading, being safe around dogs and overcoming prejudice, was named the American Humane Association’s 2013 American Hero Dog at a ceremony Saturday.

Elle and her human companion Leah Brewer were presented with the nation’s top honors last night at the star-studded Hero Dog Awards gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The awards are presented by the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, Inc., broadcast nationally on Hallmark Channel, and produced by Emmy® award-winning MRB Productions.

Elle is saving lives by teaching children dog safety (more than 2 million children are bitten by dogs each year) and making positive life changes for people by helping them overcome their fear of dogs. Since becoming a volunteer, Elle started a therapy dog reading program called "Tail Wagging Tales," helping children enjoy books and improve their reading skills. Elle is also making a difference by creating happiness all around while visiting her friends at an elementary school, a middle school, and a retirement home. Elle also reaches out to educate families about being responsible pet parents, sharing stories about her job as a therapy dog, and spreading positive awareness about dogs that are misunderstood, including pit bulls. This year’s therapy dog category sponsor, as well as the online sponsor, is the leading animal health company, Zoetis. Elle’s charity partner, which will receive $6,500 in financial support from the Hero Dog Awards, is the nonprofit organization, Hand in Paw.

The sold-out, star-studded awards honoring America’s most courageous canines were hosted at the Beverly Hilton Hotel last night by television and movie star Joey Lawrence, accompanied by a galaxy of stars and presenters including Betty White, Jennifer Coolidge, Esai Morales, Ryan O’Neal, Naomi Judd, Pauley Perrette, Lisa Vanderpump, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Bailee Madison, Rico Rodriguez, Brian Baumgartner, Megan Blake, Max Carver, Torrey DeVitto, Matt Leinart, Lauren Potter, Eric Christian Olsen, Ben Savage, Austin Stowell, Chef Michael Voltaggio, Danielle Fishell, Lori Loughlin, Daphne Zuniga, Victoria Stillwell and many more. Popular TV stars Jenni Pulos and Lisa Vanderpump served as Red Carpet hosts. The phenomenally talented Frankie Moreno, who in addition to his many hit records and accolades was named Las Vegas’ Headliner of the Year, provided the lead musical performances with striking and original songs written especially for the awards that brought down the house. Before the show, singer and Billboard recording artist Shara Strand turned in a stirring performance of “I Will Carry You,” which she wrote for American Humane Association, and guitarist Tom Caufield set a sensitive and lyrical tone during the Red Carpet, silent auction and gala dinner.

To celebrate National Cat Day, here's a TED talk about really big ones...

Beverly and Dereck Joubert: Life lessons from big cats

Beverly and Dereck Joubert live in the bush, filming and photographing lions and leopards in their natural habitat. With stunning footage (some never before seen), they discuss their personal relationships with these majestic animals – and their quest to save the big cats from human threats.

Documentary filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert have worked to conserve wildlife for more than 25 years. As National Geographic Explorers in Residence, the couple influences public policy and perceptions.

If your dog or cat has gotten sick after eating jerky treats, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to hear your story. While a formal recall has yet to be issued, the FDA is aware of thousands of pet illnesses and deaths tied to jerky treats made in China, and it's asking vets and pet owners to help find the cause.

FDA formal warning:

If you have a dog or cat that became ill after eating jerky pet treats, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like to hear from you or your veterinarian.

The agency has repeatedly issued alerts to consumers about reports it has received concerning jerky pet treat-related illnesses involving 3,600 dogs and 10 cats in the U.S. since 2007. Approximately 580 of those pets have died.

To date, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has conducted more than 1,200 tests, visited jerky pet treat manufacturers in China and collaborated with colleagues in academia, industry, state labs and foreign governments. Yet the exact cause of the illnesses remains elusive.

To gather even more information, FDA is reaching out to licensed veterinarians and pet owners across the country. "This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered," says CVM Director Bernadette Dunham, DVM, Ph.D. "Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it."

In a letter addressing U.S. licensed veterinarians, FDA lists what information is needed for labs testing treats and investigating illness and death associated with the treats. In some cases, veterinarians will be asked to provide blood, urine and tissue samples from their patients for further analysis. FDA will request written permission from pet owners and will cover the costs, including shipping, of any tests it requests.

Meanwhile, a consumer fact sheet will accompany the letter to veterinarians so they can alert consumers to the problem and remind them that treats are not essential to a balanced diet. The fact sheet also explains to consumers how they can help FDA's investigation by reporting potential jerky pet treat-related illnesses online or by calling the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for their state.

The remaining cases reported various symptoms, such as collapse, convulsions or skin issues.

Most of the jerky treats implicated have been made in China. Manufacturers of pet foods are not required by U.S. law to state the country of origin for each ingredient in their products.

A number of jerky pet treat products were removed from the market in January 2013 after a New York State lab reported finding evidence of up to six drugs in certain jerky pet treats made in China. While the levels of these drugs were very low and it's unlikely that they caused the illnesses, FDA noted a decrease in reports of jerky-suspected illnesses after the products were removed from the market. FDA believes that the number of reports may have declined simply because fewer jerky treats were available.

Meanwhile, the agency urges pet owners to be cautious about providing jerky treats. If you do provide them and your pet becomes sick, stop the treats immediately, consider seeing your veterinarian, and save any remaining treats and the packaging for possible testing.